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| Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN Derelikt Red’s Daniel Pellegrino (left) and Andrew Craft. |
Derelikt Red is a band that may be headed to the top of the list as far as rock and roll goes, and everyone can judge for him or herself when the band plays the Virginia Wesleyan lawn Nov. 18. Drummer Andrew Craft and lead vocalist/guitarist Daniel Pellegrino, both 22, have been playing together for eight years and have known each other since kindergarten. Pellegrino will be graduating from Wesleyan in August with a degree in political science, and Craft is a freshman majoring in communications.
As Craft explained, Derelikt Red focuses mainly on the “heavy stuff,” which he refers to as their “area of expertise.” Yet the band does include something for practically everyone. “There’s some punk and jazz thrown in there too,” he said. The band has played many local shows over the years, including venues such as Club Zero, the Taj Mahal and 757. They played at Wesleyan last year to help support the St. Jude’s Kidney Research program.
They’ve got credentials as well as experience. The band has received many awards, including a $50 prize for winning the Taj Mahal’s Battle of the Bands last year. However, being as successful as Derelikt Red is not easy. Pellegrino has been a musician since age four, starting with the violin and moving on to guitar at 14. Craft received his first drum set at 15, but had been studying and mimicking other drummers years before. The rock and roll life isn’t always glamorous, either.
“Every now and then you’re gonna have a bad show,” said Craft. “And we have to lug all our stuff. When you’re tired, that gets annoying.” “You do have to sacrifice,” Pellegrino added. “In high school it screwed me up because I was willing to sacrifice anything.” Both members of the band see music as what they want to do. “There’s nothing else I could see myself doing,” said Craft. “This is my pride and joy, my heart and soul. It’s like food - I need it every day.”
Pellegrino doesn’t feel any differently. “Playing live is the best feeling,” he said. “Just being able to communicate with people on a much deeper level.” Both view their college degrees as back-up plans. “I’m going to play music forever,” said Pellegrino. “’Til the day I die,” Craft agreed.
Their feelings are also mutual about music’s ability to shape a person. “Music has definitely made me the person I am today,” said Craft. “If I couldn’t play drums, I’d end up in an insane asylum.” Pellegrino agrees. “It’s definitely made me a better person. Music expands your mind more than anything else. And art is never a bad thing. Everyone should be in a band.”
Instant Messaging has become the latest craze in communicating with family and friends. Above all the most popular instant messaging program is AOL Instant Messenger, or AIM. There are other programs that offer an Instant Messenger service, but AIM, with 11 million subscribers, is by far the most popular. These programs are usually free to download and are very convenient to use, especially because there are so many cool features like a buddy list, a variety of text fonts and styles and User Profiles.
Fortunately, for those who are a little impatient with electronic e-mail, AIM is a great way to eliminate the stress of waiting for a reply. AIM gives you a reply instantly - hence, instant messaging. Jessica Shepherd, when asked if she uses Instant Messaging, said, “Oh yeah, definitely. It keeps you from long distance charges.” There are so many advantages when using AIM as opposed to the telephone and e-mail. Many Virginia Wesleyan College students and teachers use Instant Messenger as a part of their daily lives.
Another student, Liz Glad, says, “It keeps you in touch with more than one person at once.” Many Wesleyan teachers use IM as well. Joyce Easter, assistant professor of chemistry says, “We have the Microsoft IM on our computer at home, but nothing at work. When I do use it at home, it is with my nieces.” English professor Meg Foster said that she uses IM but “mostly for my totally online classes with Kaplan College. Only a few students from VWC have caught me this way.”
Sometimes, though, there are disadvantages to Instant Messaging. As Shepherd says, “It hurt my hands after a while.” “I don’t like the fact that you can’t see the person you’re talking to,” Glad says. Some other shortcomings the teachers have had with Instant Messaging are like those of Easter, who says, “It takes time to wait for a reply from the individual you are communicating with, and you both have to be online at the same time.” She also complains, “With the cable modem, it looks like we are online all the time, but in reality we are not.” Still, Instant Messenger is a huge part of the lives of Virginia Wesleyan College students and teachers.
As Moonface Martin, Gainer demonstrated how Public Enemy Number 13 would act. Paired with Heinze’s Billy Crocker, the two struggled to get out of trouble. In the process, they shared a chemistry that had everyone laughing and laughing…and laughing. A musical number, “Friendly,” performed by Stevenson, Gainer and Heinze, got immediate response from the audience, followed by cheers and more laughter.
While their performances were beyond good, the obvious crowd pleasers, were the musical and dance numbers. Performed with a live orchestra, you could feel the rhythm through the soles of your feet. Before intermission, the entire cast dazzled the audience with their “Anything Goes” production number. The up- tempo song and unison tap-dance moves had everyone talking during intermission. And that one performance was only a tease for what was to come in the next act.
Act One told the stories and introduced the characters. Six songs were performed, but a majority of the numbers were slow and melancholy. In Act Two eight songs were performed, including the dazzling finale. The story was great, the acting was great and the musical numbers were fascinating. The campus play was perfectly cast and it’s a shame that few students supported their peers, but the show will continue until Nov. 15. The good word should soon spread about this humorous, entertaining musical.
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Photo courtesy of CYNTHIA RECTOR-JONES
“Accepted Divisions” by Cynthia Rector-Jones |
From Nov. 11 to Dec. 4, the Hofheimer Library Art Gallery, is displaying “Ink Paintings,” an exhibition of works by Cynthia Rector-Jones. “Rector-Jones’ production in ink painting actualizes the potential of the technique to sustain a powerful tension between picture and surface,” said Joyce Howell a professor of art history. “The spectator recognizes landscapes rich in earthy elements, while at the same time they are aware of energetic rhythms and abstract shapes of the ink.”
Rector-Jones is currently an artist at D’art Center in Norfolk. In addition to ink paintings she is known for her “modernist” mixed media. This will not be Rector-Jones’ first visit to the Virginia Wesleyan campus; in 2001 she was a member of the Go Figure group that exhibited art works at the college.
“In recent years, Rector-Jones has received much recognition for her accomplishments
in the medium of ink,” said Howell. The Ink Painting exhibition will display
a group of very large representations exclusively using ink. According to Howell
ink paintings are unusual in American traditions; however it’s been a standard
form in Asia and, obviously, with Rector-Jones as well. On the D’art center
website Rector-Jones is quoted as saying, “ I love to be like the trees
in my paintings-free and loose, using mediums in unconventional ways…I
try to engage the viewer in visual conversation that brings reviews each time
the work is viewed.”
So go, and review. The gallery will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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